Truck parking facilities provide a place where drivers can take short breaks, wait for scheduled arrival times at nearby freight services, and long-term space for drivers who have reached the end of their driving day.
The issue truckers face every day is finding a parking spot. This has been a problem for years.
Finding a safe parking spot is a constant concern for truck drivers all throughout the country.
There are more trucks on the road today than ever, but truck parking capacity has been not capable to keep the rapidity of growth.
In addition to capacity issues, the changes in regulatory policy are increasing the existing truck parking challenge.
The implementation of the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is forcing drivers to park in unsafe or unauthorized locations to meet these requirements.
A lack of adequate truck parking frequently results in drivers stopping early, driving past their allowable HOS, or negative truck parking actions such as trucks parking on highway shoulders, ramps, or on local surface streets.
These parking behaviors can negatively affect highway safety, infrastructure condition, public safety, and quality of life.
Types of Truck Parking Facilities
Truck parking can be classified into two categories: established and inappropriate. It is also divided as:
- Publicly-owned
Truck parking locations owned by the government that have selected truck parking.
Examples of publicly-owned truck parking locations are rest areas owned by ADOT. - Privately owned and publicly open
These are parking locations owned by private companies including truck stop that provide fee-based parking or free parking; or retailers and casinos that allow trucks to park at their facility. - Private only
Truck parking locations that are privately owned and not available to the public.
Some trucking companies provide space for their trucks.
Why is there a Truck Parking Shortage?
Truck parking is only available in a limited number of places.
The study results done by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the main reasons for truck parking shortage are:
- Increased number of trucks and truck drivers on the road
- Lack of systemic approach to parking
- Condemned property, which closes off would-be parking lots to truckers
- A lot of rest areas are closed
- Not enough state funding for public parking
- Seasonal freight fluctuations
- Variable delivery schedules making it difficult to predict when truck parking is needed
- Truck driver regulations
- Trucks are banned to enter the residential neighborhoods
- Zoning issues that limit access to public parking
Truck Parking Statistics
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there are more than 3 million truckers in the United States.
It is estimated that 15.5 million trucks operate in the U.S.
However, there is only parking available for approximately 313,000 trucks — 40,000 at public rest areas and 273,000 at private truck stops.
Between 2014 and 2019, there was a 6% increase in public truck parking spaces and an 11% increase in private parking spaces.
Studies show that on average drivers spend practically an hour of driving time every day trying to find parking, and 58% of drivers say they have parked in unauthorized places at least three times a week.
The search for legal parking is also costing drivers on average 12% of their potential annual pay. The most common parking issue is also the time-of-day parking availability.
61.6% of the drivers are operating at night or in the early morning to avoid truck parking challenges during the day. Truck parking demand is highest from 7pm to 5am, with drivers looking for truck parking most often from 4pm to midnight 4.
Additionally, while many drivers have used parking reservation systems, about 39 to 48 % of truck drivers were reluctant to pay to reserve a space.
For those willing to pay for truck parking, the most common response was a willingness to pay between $1 and $5.5.
Jason’s Law
Jason Rivenburg was a truck driver who was murdered in 2009.
Unable to find parking, he was forced to park his vehicle in an abandoned lot to meet federal Hours of Service requirements.
While asleep, he was robbed and murdered.
Jason’s Law was passed three years after this tragic incident in order to bring attention to the national truck parking shortage, the associated safety and security implications, and to provide financial support to maintain parking facility continuance and construction.
Rivenburg’s wife has worked thoroughly to bring awareness to the national truck parking shortage problem.
Her efforts helped to push onward legislation to focus national attention on the issue.
Safe place to park
Truckers need to know where they can stop for a rest that’s safe.
More than 75 percent of truck drivers told an FHC survey that they experienced issues on a regular basis with finding safe parking locations when rest was needed.
A lot of public rest areas limit the amount of time that vehicles can be parked there; sometimes there are signs that say two hours.
The stressful nature of the work has led to decreased driver retention.
Truck drivers work long hours, spend days and weeks away from home, and must follow strict workplace safety guidelines to keep themselves and the roads safe.
While a driver may be doubtful to leave the profession over the lack of parking alone, the daily struggle of finding a spot may contribute to an overall negative feeling for the job.
Driver`s testimonials about truck parking
How the truck parking shortage can be improved?
Mobile Parking Applications
According to a research, drivers used the most websites or smartphone applications to select parking location.
Secondly and third they used GPS or books.
There are free apps that can be downloaded on the phone and help find truck parking:
– Park my Truck
– Trucker Path
– Truckbubba
– Road Breakers
Truck Parking Information Management System
A number of States have been implementing Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS).
TPIMS is an innovative solution to critical truck parking issues that affect the region’s economic competitiveness and the safety and efficiency of the national freight network.
These systems are intended to convey real-time information to truck drivers about available parking.
To collect precise parking availability information, detection cameras and other sensors were deployed at rest areas and private facilities.
Road signs across Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin labeled “Available Truck Parking” will digitally display the number of truck spaces open at near parking locations monitored via the TPIMS system.
Rest Area Services are Expanding
The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, introduced to the House of Representatives on March 26, aims to build new truck parking facilities and expand truck parking at existing rest areas.
The legislation dedicates hundreds of millions of dollars to projects that would increase truck parking capacity.
Travel Centers of America provides available parking counts for TA and Petro locations through its free TruckSmart driver app.
TA-Petro launched its Reserve-It parking reservation system that allows drivers to use the app to reserve and pay for parking spots up to 30 days in advance at most locations.
Also, there is an offer for no-cost option with its Preferred Parking program at 11 TA and Petro sites across the country.
Customers are given 24 hours of free truck parking for every 60 gallons of fuel purchased, up to a highest of 72 hours of parking at a sole location.
Drivers can earn another 24 hours of free parking when they spend 20 dollars or more in the store, restaurant or service area.
Pilot Flying J offers a paid parking reservation and allows drivers to pay with my Rewards points and search real-time available spaces.
Love’s is putting a premium on parking capacity as it continues its expansion.
Existing stores average between 80 to 100 parking spots per location, but new stores average 100 or more parking spots.
Love’s currently is adding between 3,000 and 4,000 parking spaces per year with new locations as well as adding parking capacity at existing locations.
Want to know more about your favorite truck stop and how trucking stops evolved through the time?
See what amenities trucking stops offer now.
Truck Parking facilities within each state
Alabama
Arizona
Security Truck Park
D & N Truck Parking
📍 7823 W Seldon Ln, Peoria, AZ 85345, United States
Ligurta Truck Parking Area – West
📍 Wellton, AZ 85356, United States
Arkansas
Truck Parking Area
📍 I-40 E, Conway, AR 72032, United States
Truck Parking Area
📍 I-55 & US-64 &, S Hwy 61, Marion, AR 72364, United States
Truck Parking Westbound
📍 Marion, AR 72364, United States
Exit 44 Auto Truck Stop
📍 Prescott, AR 71857, United States
Truck Parking Northbound
📍 I-55, Osceola, AR 72370, United States
California
Safe Truck Parking
📍 3440 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691
📍 2733 W Princeton Ave, Fresno, CA 93705
📍 8468 Airway Rd, San Diego, CA 92154
Colorado
Truck Parking MM133
📍 Gypsum, CO 81637
Park Your Trucks
📍 18151 E 6th Ave, Aurora, CO 80011
Connecticut
Bus and Truck Parking Lot (Bear Lot)
📍 Uncasville, CT 06382
Delaware
OVERNIGHT TRUCK PARKING II
📍 7777 State Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19136
Florida
📍 17707 NW Miami Ct, Miami, FL 33169
Alico/Jean St – Heavy Industrial
📍 17280 Jean St Fort Myers, FL 33967
Taft Truck Parking
📍 9602 Sidney Hayes Rd, Orlando, FL 32824
JMG SECURE TRUCK PARKING
📍 501 Zell Dr, Orlando, FL 32824
JP SECURE TRUCK PARKING
📍 2681 NE 191st St, Miami, FL 33180
Georgia
Marietta Big Truck Parking
📍 785 Pickens Industrial Dr N E, Marietta, GA 30067
Truck Parking in Atlanta
📍 4650 Stacks Rd, College Park, GA 30349
Norcross Truck Terminal & Parking
📍 471 S Cemetery St, Norcross, GA 30071
Illinois
- Lemont Truck Parking
📍 Main Street Lemont
📞 708-526-2135
Illinois Truck Parking
Vantage Truck Parking
Joliet Truck Parking
Acres Truck Parking
AAA Truck Parking
Alsip Truck + Trailer parking
Autotruck Parking and Storage Inc
Indiana
Buffalo Truck Parking
Truck Parking Westbound
📍 Middlebury, IN 46540, United States
Safe and Secure Parking
Truck Parking West Bound
📍 Westville, IN 46391, United States
TFG TRUCK PARKING
📍 6554 W 350N, Greenfield, IN 46140, United States
Truck Parking Eastbound
📍 I-80 EB, mile marker 108, Middlebury, IN 46540, United States
Iowa
Truck Parking Southbound
📍 Unnamed Road, Clear Lake, IA 50428, United States
Kansas
Truck Staging Area
📍 Kansas City, KS 66112
Kentucky
Maryland
📍 16927 Halfway Blvd, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Michigan
Truck Parking Tekonsha
📍 Marshall, MI 49068
Vantage Truck Parking – Detroit
📍 19865 Telegraph Rd, Brownstown Charter Twp, MI 48174
Minnesota
Stagecoach
📍 240 Maryland Ave E, St Paul, MN 55117
Cabela’s Truck Parking
📍 Rogers, MN 55374
Mississippi
VikBrg, MS.(P/A)
📍 Vicksburg, MS 39183
Missouri
📍 Newburg, MO 65550, United States
Strafford I-44 Eastbound Truck Parking
📍 371-423 U.S. Rte 66, Strafford, MO 65757, United States
Montana
Four Corners Trailhead
📍 Whitehall, MT 59759
Nebraska
Truck Parking
📍 Big Springs, NE 69122
Goehner Westbound Truck Parking
📍 Seward, NE 68434
Nevada
Truck Parking
📍 Las Vegas, NV 89103
New Jersey
📍 500 W Edgar Rd, Linden, NJ 07036
📍 221 Foundry St, Newark, NJ 07105
📍 350-490 Central Ave, Kearny, NJ 07032
📍 350 Berlin – Cross Keys Rd, Sicklerville, NJ 08081
New York
📍 45-46 Ct Square W, Long Island City, NY 11101
North Carolina
📍 1016 W Craighead Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
📍 3663 Trailer Dr, Charlotte, NC 28269
Right Solution Truck Parking
📍 3901 N Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28206
North Dakota
📍 5216 22nd Ave W, Williston, ND 58801
S&W Truck Park
📍 Halliday, ND 58636
Truck Parking Area
📍 Durbin, ND 58059
Ohio
Truck parking
📍 3487 Westerville Rd, Columbus, OH 43224
Truck Parking Area
📍 I-71, Mt Gilead, OH 43338
Semi Truck Parking
📍 1350 Emig Rd, Columbus, OH 43223
📍 4645 Groves Rd, Columbus, OH 43232
📍 Cypress St SW, Pataskala, OH 43068
Oklahoma
📍 5014 SW 20th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73128
Oregon
The Truck Depot LLC Truck Parking
📍 23901 NE Sandy Blvd, Troutdale, OR 97060
Hwy 34 & I-5
📍 33149 OR-34, Albany, OR 97321
Pennsylvania
TRUCK PARKING
📍 7021 Milnor St, Philadelphia, PA 19135
OVERNIGHT TRUCK PARKING II
📍 7777 State Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19136
Lego Truck Parking
📍 7930 State Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19136
South Carolina
📍 10688 Farrow Rd, Blythewood, SC 29016
Tennessee
Big Rig Parking
WB Truck Parking
Super 8 Truck Parking
Truck Parking Area
📍 Hillsboro, TN 37342, United States
Texas
📍 4701 Cleveland Rd, Dallas, TX 75241
📍 5380 Everman Kennedale Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76140
📍 7425 E Mt Houston Rd, Houston, TX 77050
📍 5301 S 2nd Ave, Dallas, TX 75210
Big Truck Parking
📍 Henrietta, TX 76365
Virginia
📍 4717 W Military Hwy #1728, Chesapeake, VA 23321
Target Distribution Center Bobtail/Truck parking
📍 423 Mt Vernon Rd, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477
Washington
📍 6113 176th St E, Puyallup, WA 98375
Red Lion Inn & Suites Truck/RV/Bus Parking
📍 5718 W Clearwater Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336
Wyoming
Warren Rd Truck Parking – Gangplank Monument
📍 I- 80 Srv Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009
Conclusion
Creating adequate parking options for long-haul truckers will not only help keep truckers safe during their rest breaks, but will also represent safer roads for everyone.
Do you know some other safe parking places?
Write in the comment section below.
